Coaches call for rule changes to stop red cards in rugby union ‘destroying game’

Premiership coaches believe existing red-card protocols should be changed in an effort to keep 15 v 15 on the field and avoid destroying the game after three major finals last season were marred by sendings-off.

The Bath prop Beno Obano was sent off midway through the first half of last seasons sold-out Premiership final narrowly won by Northampton while Sam Cane was dismissed during New Zealands World Cup final defeat by South Africa.

Toulouses Richie Arnold also saw red in extra time of their Champions Cup final win over Leinster.

All three were correct decisions according to the current laws but none were flagrant acts of violence.

Baths director of rugby, Johann van Graan, believes the game is now the cleanest and the safest it has ever been but added that we should look at how we can mitigate collisions that are unintentional, pointing out that rugby is a collision sport, played at a ferocious pace that currently gives players little margin for error.

Exeters Rob Baxter, meanwhile, has cited the NFL where a player can be removed for an act of foul play but is immediately replaced, suggesting that red cards ruining showpiece finals was an inevitable outcome given what currently constitutes a sending-off offence.

In May, World Rugbys council approved plans to roll out a global trial of 20-minute red cards which allow for the sent off player to be replaced after 20 minutes have elapsed after it proved successful in Super Rugby.

It has also been employed in the Rugby Championship but although it has support in the southern hemisphere, it has opposition in the north amid fears it is a display of leniency towards high tackles against the backdrop of concussion litigation.

I believe there should potentially be a different colour card, because if I punch somebody or a player punches a player, I believe it should be a straight red and he should not come back into the game, said Van Graan.

However, if theres a collision and the player gets it wrong by three centimetres, I do believe we as a game want to see 15 on 15, so I believe a player or a different player should be allowed to come back.

Thats way beyond my decision making process.

If you ask my view, thats my view.

I believe the red card in the World Cup final, in the Champions Cup final and the Premiership final, its not a deliberate act of foul play, its a dynamic sport and players do get it wrong.

Its something weve got to keep growing the game butthe beauty of rugby is big collisions, scrums, mauls, so having the balance between the two.

Baxter, for his part, echoed Van Graans views and suggested that players consider the existing red-card protocols as harsh.

American football is the perfect example to me, he said.

They have the same problem with head injuries and concussion.

If you have foul play in an American football game for illegal head contact or whatever it is, that player is removed from the game.

But you can replace him.

So they dont destroy the game for something that they see as that element of foul play.

I cant see why that couldnt be adapted into rugby.

Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion Im not talking about deliberate acts of foul play, running up and kicking someone in the head or punching someone and knocking them out, or swinging arm tackles.

Its something where you go, yellow card or red card, why not say that this player isnt on the field any more, you have to replace him.

But I dont understand why we completely change the game based on what most of the players will say, see as accidental issues.

Surely were not getting that bit right and I think most supporters would agree with that..

This article has been shared from the original article on theguardian, here is the link to the original article.